Here is a concise summary of the provided text:
**Context:** A controversy has erupted in India over comments made by leaders of the India Alliance (opposition party) regarding Sanatan Dharma (the oldest religion in India, practiced by approximately 80% of the population).
**Key Points:**
1. **Controversial Statements:**
* Uday Nidhi (Tamil Nadu CM's son) likened Sanatan Dharma to diseases like dengue and corona, suggesting it should be "eradicated".
* Karti Chidambaram (Congress leader) called Sanatan Dharma a "curse" and a "society divided into castes".
2. **Backlash:**
* BJP (ruling party) has launched a counterattack, accusing the opposition of insulting Hinduism and the country's culture.
* Hindu organizations and religious gurus have condemned the statements.
3. **Political Motivations:**
* Analysts suggest the controversy is driven by vote bank politics, with the opposition trying to appease non-Hindu voters and the BJP countering to consolidate Hindu support.
4. **Regional Dynamics:**
* The controversy has highlighted the North-South divide in India, with the South being a key battleground for the upcoming 2024 elections.
**Overall:** The controversy surrounding Sanatan Dharma has become a politically charged issue in India, with both the ruling BJP and opposition parties engaging in a war of words, each trying to outmaneuver the other ahead of the 2024 elections.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text, without opinions, in short sentences with numbers:
1. **80% of people in India believe in the Sanatan religion**.
2. **Sanatan is considered the oldest religion in India**.
3. **Uday Nidhi, son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, made controversial statements about Sanatan**.
4. **Uday Nidhi compared Sanatan to diseases like dengue, malaria, and corona, suggesting it should be eradicated**.
5. **Karti Chidambaram of the Congress party defined Sanatan Dharma as a society divided into castes, calling it a curse**.
6. **Amit Shah, Home Minister, has been vocal about the controversy surrounding Sanatan Dharma**.
7. **Shankaracharya established mathas (centers) in various parts of India for the spread of Sanatan Dharma and spirituality**.
8. **Some of these mathas include Govardhan Math in Orissa, Sharda Shringeri Peeth in Karnataka, Dwarka Peeth in Gujarat, and Jyotirpeeth in Uttarakhand**.
9. **Leaders like Nitish Kumar, Akhilesh Yadav, and Priyanka Gandhi have been associated with Sanatan Dharma practices**.
10. **The controversy has led to an all-out attack by the BJP, accusing the opposition of insulting Sanatan Dharma**.
11. **Historical challenges to Sanatan Dharma have come from Muslims, missionaries, and the British**.
12. **The BJP has been accused of using Sanatan Dharma as a political agenda, particularly around election times**.
13. **Congress members in Madhya Pradesh have visited temples, including the Kamal Nath temple, to prove their Sanatan credentials**.
14. **Bhupesh Baghel in Chhattisgarh is seeking votes in the name of the Ram Circuit, potentially challenging his stance on Sanatan Dharma**.
15. **Rahul Gandhi has been criticized for past comments comparing Hindu organizations to terror groups**.
16. **The debate around Sanatan Dharma has highlighted divisions within the country, including along North-South and Hindu-non-Hindu lines**.